Monday, May 10, 2010

Jason's graduation continued....

I always like to have my picture taken with the boys - I suppose no matter how old they are I'll still refer to them that way.
My mother came from Arizona with her husband. They were great sports about the weather, but I think they were very happy to be on the airplane going home this morning. My mother has been to every graduation of her grandsons', including my sister's two boys. Next year she'll have Sam's law school graduation from Michigan State as well. We'll put in an advance order for better weather, mom!

Jason's Graduation

Jason graduated from Michigan State University this past weekend, with a degree in mathematics. Most of the photos we took came out blurred, but here are a few of the happy graduate. Go Green!
Magic Johnson graduated from MSU, and it seems a lot of students like their pictures taken with this statute of him, Jason included. You can see that it was a cloudy day. It was freezing out, rainy, windy, bbbrrrrr. It even hailed at one point! That's May in Michigan for you.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Gallery Pieces

The pieces on top are the ones I have sent to the gallery. I had to balance out the
time/money/value aspect of the pieces with ones I felt I could sell. I know you've seen most of these pieces before, but I added a few different ones to the mix. To see the gallery go to
theartloft.org. You can click on Artists to see some of the other exhibitioners and their work.


Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Big Reveal

The Big Reveal winners were announced today in Scarlett Lanson's 4th Use the Muse contest. This is a wonderful contest in which everyone purchases the same kit and then designs an entry based on a special item, the "Big Reveal." Beaders from all over the world participate and it is so much fun to see what wonderful and inspiring pieces are made.

I have participated in the last two contests, but didn't play in this one. I don't know how long Scarlett will keep doing this contest, but I encourage everyone to join if you can. Enjoy!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

University of Michigan Commencement

We had the privilege of President Obama giving the commencement address at the University of Michigan today. He gave a wonderful speech in which he encouraged people to be "nicer" to each other, to listen to other points of view, to appreciate the fact that we can have different opinions in a democracy. He said that change doesn't come easily or quickly, but that historically the people of our country have always responded to change that safeguards and protects our well-being.

And then...I look at the blurb on the Internet about his speech, and almost every single one of the 11,000 comments were negative, ugly, anti-Obama, anti-government. People don't want to listen to what other people have to say, the just want to hear themselves talk, and talk ugly.

How disappointing. How sad. I fear for the future of our democracy when people are so disrespectful, so filled with hate, and so fueled by their self-righteousness and selfishness.

To all the graduates of 2010, including my son Jason, you are our future, please keep your hearts and minds open, please build on the friendships and understanding of other cultures, races, religions, and sexuality that you have grown up with and nurtured in college, so that our world can learn from what you can teach us.